Letter tray



1953 R. L. GALLAGHER 2,627,343

LETTER TRAY Filed Nov. 18, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 zyww gym ATTORNEY TOR1953 R. GALLAGHER 2,627,343

LETTER TRAY Filed Nov. 18, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET z Richard LGalZa 718/ BYINVEN OER AT TORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1953 LETTER TRAY Richard L.Gallagher, Erie, Pa., assigncr to Victor Safe & Equipment Company, Inc.,North Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November18, 1948, Serial No. 60,672

4 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with provision of means forfacilitating the removal of documents from trays of the kind normallyadapted to stand on a desk for the reception of correspondence and otherdata.

This is a continuation in part of my Patent No. 2,470,347, granted May17, 1949.

An object of the present invention is the provision of means whereby anedge of documentary matter in the tray can be raised into a position foreasy grasping as the band. is put into the tray in the normal action ofcollecting the documentary matter.

A further object in a preferred form of the invention, is the provisionof such means in a form which in assembly requires mere interengagementof the cooperating parts as distinct from any complicated mechanicalassembly oper ation.

A futher object of the invention is, the provision of means tofacilitate the handling of documents in a tray in such form that saidmeans will normally remain in a position ready for use and will in noway interfere with the normal functioning of the tray.

Yet a further object in a preferred form of the invention is theprovision of such means in a manner which enables said means to belifted straight off for dusting or cleaning purposes, or, if desired, touse the tray without said means, or to use said means on another tray.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent in the ensuingdescription.

In order that it may be clearly understood and readily carried intoeffect the invention is hereinafter described with reference to theaccompanying diagrammatic drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view looking into the open top of a documenttray incorporating a preferred form of means according to the presentinvention for facilitating the handling of the documents. v

Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation taken on the line IIIHI of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing how the device isoperated to facilitate the handling of documents.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation taken on the line VII--VII of Fig.5, but showing how a document in the tray is raised for grasping. Thisshowing, in fact corresponds to Fig. 4 but, the hand seen in Fig. 4 ishere omitted.

Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation illustrating a further modifiedform of the invention.

In the construction illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 to 3inclusive, the reference numeral 9 represents the bottom of the traywith the walls 10, ll, l2 and I3 upstanding therefrom. The wall I2 ispreferably formed with an opening at the top to define an edge Hi.

A rockable member constituted mainly by a plate i5 having an operatinglever 16 and intermediate channel portion ll has the channel portionengaged upon the edge 14 which thus comprises virtually a fulcrum pointfor the rockable member, the clearance between the substantiallyparallel walls 18 and I9 defining the channel, being spaced apartsufiiciently to permit free rocking action within the limits betweenwhich, on the one hand, the plate l5 abutsthe bottom of the tray and, onthe other hand, the corner 20 abuts the outer surface of the wall [2.The arrangement is such that in the normal position as illustrated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3 the plate I5 rests on the bottom of the tray whichpreferably is recessed as indicated at H so that the upper surface ofthe plate l5 lies substantially flush with the upper surface of thebottom 9.

It will be observed from Fig. 2 that the plate 15 is substantially widerthan the operating lever it. That is of considerable advantage in thatit tends positively so to load the rocking member that unless positivelyoperated by downward pressure on the lever 16 it assumes the positionshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The corners of the side walls are preferably rounded as indicated in thedrawings as also are the edges 22 and 23 at each side of the fulcrumedge It.

The straight-forward character of the tray itself and of the rockingmember are such as to lend the device according to the present inventionto production from simple pressings, stampings or moldings.

One method of operation of the device is made clear with reference toFig. 4 from which it will be seen that light downward pressure on theoperating lever It, as the hand indicated at 24, ap-' son standing updesires to remove documents from the tray, it may be more convenient toslide the fingers under the documents as the lever I6 is depressed bythe back of the hand. Thus while providing a considerable degreeofchoice in the manner of operation, the arrangement en ables anoperator to raise the'end'sof all documents in the tray and grip themsecurely for easy removal with the single motion or directing the handinto the tray in close proximity over the lever portion H5, in thecourse of which action some part of thehand or wrist seems in practiceto engage and depress the lever with an almost unconscious and automatic'act'ionl' In the=modification illustrated with reference toFigs; 5,6and 7-the rocking member comprisesthe plate ZGjwhich "normally extendssubstan-' tially horizontally having at its" forward "end the verticalwall 21 anaatu mea overupper edge portion 28 In this form the'rockingmember-swings about an "axis defined by the rod 29engaged in holes inthe opp'ositesid'e walls. The weight of the plate 26 is such that'thevertical front wall 27 of the rockingm'embernormally lies inanopening-oi the Irontwall defined by themarginal wallportions 30and 3!;-and virtually completes the front wallo'f'thetray, I

In the further modified form illustrated with ieflerence to' liig B theplate 32-0f the'rocking member is fitted' -into 'aportion cutout fromthe bottom 33 ofthe tra and to prevent the'plate from swinging downthrough-the plane of the bottom 33 a lip 34' is provided onthe inner endof the plate32 to engage over the adjacent edge of the bottom; I u I Theinvention claimed is: 4 l

1. A document tray having a bottom and an opening at the top defined bywalls upstanding from substantially the edges of said bottom, oneofsaid'walls having a jcutaway portion on the uppersid'e thereofn'ieansfor raising an edge portion ofa document in the tray into aposition to be grasped by hand for"ea'sy -removal; such"documentedge'raising means comprising a plate having an extensiondefining, at its end remote from said plate, an operating leverabove'the plane 'of said plate and means intermediate said plate andsaid lever engageable with the upper edge of the cut away portion ofsaid cut away wall rockably mounting said document edge raising meanswith respect to said tray with the plate normally resting flat upon theupper surface of saidbottom and said lever disposed outside said trayabove the plane of said plate, the weight of said'plate being such,relative to said lever, as to ensure that said plateportion restsflatupon the upper surface of said bottom at all times except whenpressure is applied to said operating lever for raising said plate.

2. In combination with a document tray having a bottom and an opening atthe top defined by side walls upstanding from substantially the edge ofsaid bottom, one of said side walls having the central portion thereofcut away to define a horizontal knife edge below the top thereof, meansfor raising an edge portion of a document in the tray into a position tobe grasped by hand for easy removal, such document edge raising meanscomprising a plate; an extension on one side of said'pl'ate defining'alever ofiset upwardly and outwardly therefrom disposed in the cut awayportion of said'cut away wall, and an intermediate raised portion onsaid extension engageable with the knife edge in the cut away portion ofsaid wall, said plate being rockable on said knife edge when the'outerendof said extension-is pressed" downwardly whereby-said plate is raisedand the edge of a'docu'ment insaid'trayis moved intoaposition forengagement by the handas it is entered into said tray for grasping thedocunt, 1; L

3. The combination" as set'iorth in claim z in which thepla'teis'normally engaged in a recess in the bott'om of said tray with theupperface of said plate disposed substantially in the same plane astheuppersurface ofsaid bottom.

4. A document tray comprising an opencontainer having a bottom andvertically'extending marginal walls, one of said'walls'having arectangularshaped cut away portiondefining'ahorizontal knife edgeintermediate the top and bottom of said wall,"a plate" adapted tonormally lie flat onthe bottom' of said' container for raising the edgesof documents therein having an upwardly and outwardly extending portionextending through the cutaway portion'of said cut away wall, the outerend'of'said ofiset portion of said plate-defining an operatinglever'above the plane of said plate for tilting same, and a raisedchannel portion intermediate said extending portion e'ngageable'withsaid horizontal knife edge in the cutaway 'portionofsai'd cutaway'side'wall, said knife edge defining a'fulcrum whereby said plate istilted upwardly away from'the bottom of said container whensaidlever-is-pressed downwardly.

, RICHARD L, GALLAGHER.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

